“The number was about the same for the better part of 16 years, and it suddenly jumped. Now participants want somebody to bounce ideas off of and to validate their thinking, and some of them want really in-depth advice,” Spectrem director Gerry O’Connor told Investment News.

Growing healthcare concerns and the economic climate in the United States have many Americans concerned with retirement planning and financial security. In addition to 401(k)s and Social Security benefits, Americans may better protect their assets by investing in a long-term care plan as well as a life insurance plan to protect their family members and survivors from financial hardship when they are gone.